Medicina
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Self-efficacy is the confidence in one's own abilities to avoid smoking in situations that can trigger desire. It is considered an important predictor of relapses. In Argentina there is no valid instrument to evaluate it. ⋯ In the domain of Positive Affections a = 0.82 and a = 0.89; Negative Affections a = 0.89 and a = 0.90 and for Craving a = 0.84 and a = 0.75, also respectively for the two versions. In the exploratory factor analysis, three factors were identified that explained 95% of the variance of the questionnaire in its extensive version and 69% in its short version. A reliable and valid Argentinean version of the Self-Efficacy/Temptation Scale was obtained, to be applied to smokers.
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Drug promotion and advertisement by pharmaceutical industry influence medical prescription and, in some cases, the information provided is incomplete or biased. The objective was to analyze the advertisements delivered by medical representatives and determine if the information was appropriate for rational prescribing. It is a prospective study (March to November 2018) by collecting print advertisements randomly received in neurology centers. ⋯ The information provided was false in 80% (n = 48) and 53.3% (n = 32) contained misleading images; and 69.2% (n = 18) of the graphics were false. The information provided by medical advertisements analyzed in this study would be insufficient to know and prescribe a new drug. Lack of information in posology, contraindication, drug action and adverse reactions do not contribute to rational use of medications.
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Prescription errors represent a relevant health problem. This work aims to analyze the medication prescription error in hospitalized patients before and after a multiple intervention. This is a quasi-experimental study of the uncontrolled before-after type. ⋯ After the intervention, the error decreased to 4.3% (n = 26), that is, 4.3 prescriptions with error every 100 prescriptions, the most frequent error being the incorrect dose: 76.9% (n = 20), another 23.1% (n = 6 ). The harm associated with inadequately prescribed medication before and after was 0.95 (n = 6) events and 0.33 (n = 2) events per 100 admissions respectively. The improvement intervention was useful for reducing the prescription error in this institution and patient sample.
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Case Reports
[Cervical myelopathy secondary to recreational nitrous oxide use: an emergent pathology].
We describe the case of a 27-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency ward with hypoesthesia and paresthesia developing over the last two months, initially in both feet and progressing to the knees in a few days without associated gait disorders. Dystonia in the thumb and index finger of both hands was noted. Blood tests including toxic drugs were negative. ⋯ The biochemical and bacteriological analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid was normal. Because of these findings, the patient was re-interviewed to determine the consumption of unusual drugs, and nitrous oxide consumption was referred. The patient was admitted for further studies, which confirmed the diagnosis.
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Observational Study
[Cardiac magnetic resonance and follow up of professional soccer players recovering from COVID-19].
The incidence of post-COVID-19 cardiac compromise is not well known. The eventual cardiac repercussions on a return to high-performance sport are unclear. A prospective observational study with evaluation by physical examination, electrocardiogram, Doppler echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) was carried out in international level professional soccer players recovering from COVID-19 who had the disease asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. ⋯ The remaining 13 completed high intensity training sessions and participated in local league competitions. At 4 months after diagnosis, none of the soccer players developed cardiac events and training and competitions were well tolerated. These findings suggest low cardiovascular impact of COVID 19 and excellent tolerance to early post-COVID high intensity exercise of young athletes recovering from the disease with no or mild symptoms.